What the Grades Say About New Wolfpack Tackle Jimarion McCrimon
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RALEIGH — With three starters on the way out the door via graduation and the transfer portal, the NC State coaching and recruiting staff needed to rebuild the team's offensive line for returning quarterback CJ Bailey. It became a major priority and the team started by addressing Bailey's blind side in the transfer portal.
Offensive line coach Garett Tujague and the rest of the staff settled on a player they saw twice in the last two seasons, securing a commitment from East Carolina tackle Jimarion McCrimon. After earning first-team All-Conference honors for the Pirates in the American Conference in 2025, McCrimon looked ready for a step up in competition. He will get that opportunity with the Pack.
What McCrimon's grades look like
In his two years of significant experience with ECU, McCrimon played both of the tackle spots. His efforts on the left side in 2025 were recognized by voters for the American Conference, but his grades were better during the 2024 season when he played right tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. That bodes well in terms of flexibility for NC State when it comes to time to pick one for the new lineman.
PFF is imperfect when it comes to evaluating offensive line play from a grading standpoint, but it does provide a relative idea of what a tackle's strengths and weaknesses are. McCrimon finished as a better pass blocker than run blocker in both 2024 and 2025 at right and left tackle. On the right side, he posted a 65.9 grade, while he finished with a score of 63.2 on the opposite end.
Let’s get it!! 🔴🐺⚪️ @Coach2J @StateCoachD#HTT#1Pack1Goal#BigMenLead pic.twitter.com/PXtFCl30B6
— Jimarion McCrimon (@JMcc_62) January 5, 2026
At left tackle, McCrimon allowed just three sacks on 16 pressures in 2025. In true passing sets, he was only credited with one sack allowed from the left side. While he graded out stronger from the right side, he allowed more true passing set pressures in 2024. Still, McCrimon will be a strong option opposite Teague Andersen, no matter where NC State opts to deploy him.
The Wolfpack might lose some of the run block strength it had with Jacarrius Peak in 2025 with McCrimon. He was an average run blocker at right tackle, grading out with a 60.3. He was below average at left tackle, grading out with a 53.6. McCrimon will be blocking for a true bruiser in 2026, though, as Duke Scott has the potential to be a machine in terms of yards after contact.
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Tucker Sennett graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Journalism from the esteemed Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. A former basketball player, he has gained valuable experience working at Cronkite News and brings a deep passion for sports and reporting to his role as the NC State Wolfpack Beat Writer On SI.
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